Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-01
ANIMAL FRIENDSHIPS.
D,sinterested Devotion Displayed BY Ele-
plants and Other Creatures

Dssinter6sted Devotion Dtspl3y0a Dy EI0-
plants and Other Creatures
That the lower animals have their
special friends, or show preferences as
to their companions. no observer can
doubt. In some cases, the friendship
is between two of the same tribe;
again, we find what are generally con-
sidered the most antagonistic forms
united in bonds of good-fellowship,
and we see acts of devotion and self
sacrifice that are almost identical with
those that characterize the friendship
of human beings. 1t is needless to
say that the impulses are much the
same in all; some protesting an in
terest that is actuated entirely by
greed. or for personal ends; while in
others it is unseIfish.
Any one who has visited the herd of
elephants owned by Mr.. Barnum must
have noticed the large dog that stood
by the SIDE of one of the huge
pachyderms. To the visitor this
might have seemed accidental; but
the dog was always at its post by this
particular animal. If the dog wan
dered off, the elephant showed its dis
tress Immediately by attempting to
follow; straining at the chain confined
to its ponderOus feet, or throwing
aloft its trunk and uttering the shrill
whistle indicative of alarm, and only
resuming the mOnotonous swing OF the
head when its companion returned
The elephant was often observed
caressing the dog. and. though the
latter always slept in the straw. some
times beneath its huge friend, it was
never stepped upon nor crushed.
When the elephant was led out to go
through its task in the ring, the dog
would begin to bark and endeavor to
join the throng of performers; SO that
it was perfectly evident that the
friendship was mutual.
In many of the works of old writer's
are found instances of such attach
ments between man and beast: Elian
records friendship between a little
girl, who sold flowers in the streets of
Antioch, and an elephant whom she
was in the habit of feeding. One of
the elephants in the Barnum herd ex-
hibitcd great interest in little daugh-
ter of one of the attendants, holding
her upon its trunk, and in many ways
showing its affection.
In India the elephants are so trusted
that they are sometimes employed as
nurses. and have been seen tending
their charges, lifting them gently back
when they were disposed to stray
away. The natives state that these
great animals have been known to die
of broken heart when deprived of a
certain keeper. and Lieutenant Shipp,
an English officer of extensive expert
ence in the East. gives minute ac-
count of an elephant that died IN what
was considered fit of remorse after
having killed its keeper.
While attachment between animals
is everywhere to be seen, it is not often
that we witness such acts of disinter-
estcd devotion as we expect among
human beings. Mother-birds protect
their young in the face of every danger:
but it must be confessed that few OBJ
servers have seen animals go to the
rescue of others without maternal or
patcrnal incentive; but such cases are
not wanting.
Some years ago Scotch naturalist
wishing to obtain gull fired at a
flock, breaking the wing of one which
came fluttering down, falling into the
ocean. At first the flock were democrat
lied. and flew wildly about, uttering
harsh cries, but moment later they
seemed to be recalled to sense of duty
by the struggles of their wounded COM
rade. and two birds darted down,
seized it by the tips of its wings, then
rose and bore it away in triumph; for,
as may be supposed, the naturalist did
not fire. but permitted the rescue.
Here was friendship indeed; heroism,
in fact, rs the other birds alarmed by
the fire faced the same danger.-Wide
4u06e.